art challenges – Pics and Posts

One Photo Poster

A month ago I shared the “one photo” I used for Sheila Delgado’s 30-day Creative Gathering. Today, I present the 30 versions of the tree photo I submitted for the Gathering–one for each day, February 28 through March 2. As usual, working with the photos provided a much needed time-out from the daily grind and compelled me to spend a little time each day playing with color and texture. This was particularly helpful as I struggled through the many cold, gloomy, and wet days of February.

I submitted one photo edit each day, but I have more than 250 extra photo edits! I usually played around with the photo until I “happened upon” something I liked. Sometimes, I liked far too many and then had to go through the process of whittling down to one, which was usually the one that surprised me or brought me the most joy.

If you’d like to see the photos featured in the poster above in their full, individual glory, check out the album on Flickr: One Photo, Endless Possibilities.

Also, if you’re interested in seeing the amazing artwork of the other participants, be sure to read Sheila D’s “wrap-up” post on the February Gathering: The 30-day Creative Gathering Artists, February 2023.

I usually join Parul Thakur for #ThursdayTreeLove every second and fourth Thursday of the month. If you would like to play along, post a picture of a tree on your blog and link it back to her latest #treelove post.

As I wrote the date in my journal this morning, it hit me like a ton of bricks–we are about to enter the last month of the year. The last month! I slightly panicked about all the things I’d planned but didn’t and won’t get to before Christmas. Thankfully, I quickly adjusted. I cannot allow the unfinished business of the year to plague the last few weeks, especially since the deadlines are self-imposed and none of it is actually necessary.

That said, taking time to share beauty and light is always necessary, so this week, I’m opening my camera roll and creating collages of some things I’ve wanted to share, but have been too busy or too tired to do so.

Today’s long overdue post features the 30 pieces of photo-art I created for Sheila D’s September 30-day Gathering (the Gathering). I went into the Gathering knowing only one thing: since I wanted to feel like a “real” artist, I would put some work into the photos and alter them using PhotoShop and/or other photo applications. After my third post, I decided to work in threes–that is, I would work with one theme or technique for three days and then select my favorite piece for each day’s post. This resulted in 10 themes/techniques for the month–which resulted in a bazillion photos (not exactly an exaggeration):

Music
Circles
Purple Flowers
DistressFx
Sunflowers
Purple and Red
Purple Fractals
Brushstrokes
Textures
Roses

I usually worked the photos in more than one app to achieve the desired results. I shared four of them on the blog in September, and maybe, I’ll get around to sharing the others–and some of the other 709 pieces I created during September. Yes, that is the exact number. Isn’t that close to a bazillion? 😉

I thoroughly enjoyed the Gathering. It provided time out from life’s vagaries and lots of free therapy! Unfortunately, that was the last time I took time to create art every day. In fact, that was the last period in which I consistently took time for creative fun and possibly the last time I could vouch for my own sanity!

You can get an overview of the full Gathering and a glimpse of the work of the other artists by checking out Sheila’s post featuring the Creative Gathering Group Gallery. There’s lots of wonderful eye candy for your soul!